Vent and filter plug closure



P 1953 H. 1.. BERING ET AL 2,650,673

VENT AND FILTER PLUG CLOSURE Filed March 29, 1950 HORACE L. BER/N6 THOMAS P. CALLAHAN INVENTORS Patented Sept. 1, 1953 OFFICE VENT AND FILTER PLUG CLOSURE Horace L. Bering, Decatur, Ill., and Thomas P. Callahan, Springfield, Mass.

Application March 29, 1950, Serial No. 152,592

3 Claims. (01. 183-44) The instant invention relates to vent plug clocures and more particularly to the type used in steel containers for shipment of various kinds of acids, especially sulphuric acid, nitric acid, and the like.

It is well known that much factual evidence supports the statements by manufacturers and shippers in the chemical industry regarding the difiiculty and expense incurred when certain gas forming acids are shipped and stored in containers not equipped with venting plugs for the bung hole in such containers, and in several instances some containers have leaked and others have exploded due to internal pressure built up by the acid contents of such containers. It is known, too, that while dangerous internal pressure may at times be detected through evidence of rupture in the heads of the containers, yet, the risk and uncertainty of dependence on such procedure is ob vious.

In view, then, of the necessity for maximum safety provision covering both the interstate and overseas shipment of acids, this invention contrives to eliminate the hazard attending the leakage' and destruction of acid products in shipping and storing the same, and especially under conditions where such shipment and storage demands that the said acid products remain for substantially long periods of time in unusually high temperatures and are subject to sustained agitation.

One embodiment of this invention is the provision of a porous core or disk portion disposed centrally therein, which, through exhaustive tests has proved to be a venting means possessing a substantially high venting rate and a substantially low leakage rate, thereby carrying out the purpose of maximum, practical and economical safety provision as intended.

The said core or disk is formed from carbon, carborundum, or, certain other suitable materials, selectively used according to known re quirements with respect to the fact that certain types of acids exert a deleterious action on certain materials used in this core or disk, and it accordingly becomes necessary to provide the disk made from material which is proof against attack by acid action, as is regulated by known standards.

It is known, of course, that a vent plug porous disk of this type will leak acid to some very slight degree when the container is under ag tation or in a position to bring the acid against the venting means in the container, and, as evidenced in the tests above mentioned, very slight amounts of acid are drawn through the porous material of the disk by capillary action. This leakage thus produced, is, however, very slight, even when the container is placed so as to bring the disk below the acid level, and although the venting capacity of the disk is thus slightly re duced, the disk will still vent to a safe pressure when the container is again set in upright position, to bring the device to top position in the same.

A definite advantage in this improved vent closure is the provision therein of such a degree of porosity as will maintain adequate venting performance regardless of the white sulphate and similar deposits which at times may form and dry on the outside surface of the metal container, resulting from said slight leakage of said porous disk portion of the device.

Another advantage of this invention is the provision of baflle means on a portion thereof to minimize the splashing of acid against the porous disk when the container is positioned uprightly.

It is believed to be obvious to those skilled in the art that this invention is, for the purpose intended, of such character and construction as enables economical and practical manufacture thereof, while at the same time imparting the highest possible degree of safety in actual use.

A clear understanding of this improved vent plug closure may be had from reference to the following specification and the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application.

Figure 1 is a top plan view showing a fra mentary portion of the container wall, while a fragment of the metal body and shoulder portion is broken away on or about the line ll of Figure 3 showing part of the outer edge of the venting disk and a part of one of the sealing gasket members.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the device shown in Figure 1, but without the wall portion and the internally threaded collar member of the container; and,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken centrally through the device, and showing the same removably mounted in sealing engagement with the usual collar member and acid resistant sealing washer of the container, a part of the wall section of the container also being shown.

Referring in detail to the drawings and first with reference to Figures 1 and 3 there is shown the vent plug assembly in which is contained the porous venting portion enabling release therethrough of gases resulting from pressure built up within a container, which, for the instant provision is a metal drum type container, the wall of which is designated generally by the numeral I having the flanged aperture I0a adapted for fixed crimped engagement therein of the internally threaded collar member I I encasing the acid resistant sealing ring Ila, and while the collar member II with its sealing ring Ila is illustrated for the purpose of more clearly defining the actual use of the invention, these last named parts are not, however, any part of the invention.

Fitting in removable and threadable engagement with said collar member I I is the improved vent plug closure I2 having the flange portion I3 extending outwardly circumferentially from the upper part of the externally threaded body portion I4, the threads I5 of which engage the 7 corresponding threads in the said collar member II. portion I3 and the upper face of the collar member I I is imposed the acidresistant sealing washor IE which functions to thoroughly seal the juncture of the device I2 and the collar member' t I in use on said drum type container;

The lower part of the body portion I 4 is formed inv the depending circular sleeve-like portion I! which is of somewhat narrower diameter than that of the threads l5, and serves the twofold purpose of a baille means for minimizing the splashing of acid against the porous venting disk portion l8-which will be later explainedand, as a means for threadably and removably engaging the hollow lock member 20.

Axially through the vent plug closure assembly I2 is the outlet port 59 in axial alignment with the inverted well opening 2I- which is of substantially larger-diameter than said port I9 and is adapted to seat the sealing gasket 22 against the shoulder Illa while said gasket 22 engages the periphery of the top of the venting disk I8 and the gasket 23 engages the periphery of the bottom of the venting disk I8,- and it will be evident fromreference to Figure 3 that the gasket 22-, the vent disk I8 and the gasket 23 are interposed between said shoulder [9a and the annular upper face a of the lock: member 20' and are thus held in acid-tight connection by means of the threads 20?) externally on the lock member "engaging the corresponding threads 2Ia internally on and part way up into said bore opening ZI.

The venting disk I8 comprises substantially a solid, though porous embodiment of the hereinbefore mentioned material and possesses the ca pacity for enabling the escape therethrough of gaseslunder interior pressure as then explained.

The venting disk I8 thus positioned and engagedhas produced an effective and safe means for providing against the damage and destruction of the containers and their acid contents, as well as preventing property damage in stor' ing and shipping such material.

It is here noted that so far as the present invention is concerned, the venting disk I8 itseIf may be of different precise carbon, carborundum or other suitable venting materials and of various density with respect to its enabling the passage of gases therethrough, but, in any case, the invention is characterized by the safety factor resident in its control of said acid produced gases as mentioned. It is noted too, that the sealing gaskets 22 and 23 may be made from lead or other suitable acid resistant sealing material.

The oppositely positioned notches 200 in the Between the underside of the flan-gelock member 20 provide means for the engagement therewith of a torc wrench to effect the acid-tight engagement of the parts assembled interiorly of the device.

Normally, with the plug closure I2 removed from the acid container, the container is filled as desired and it is then necessary only to screw the assembled unit comprising this invention into the collar member II of" the container and tighten it against the sealing washer" member I5, thus rendering the container safe for either storage or shipping in sustained temperatures which have heretofore resulted in costly damage and loss.

Though the illustrated provision and structure is a practical exemplification of the invention, it is not a limitation, as modification and change are contemplated within the scope of the claims.

-What is claimed is:

1. A vent plug closurefor containers comprising' in combination a circularly formed body member, a flange extending outwardly circumferentially from the top of said body member, thread means exteriorly on said body member for engaging corresponding thread means in. acom tainer for liquids, a circularly formed baffie portion on said body member and depending. from the bottom of said body member to minimize the splashing of liquids into the bottom of the body member, an outlet port axially in the topface of the body member, a well opening of substantially larger diameter than the outlet port and comnnn nicating therewith, an annular shoulder formed by and at the juncture of said outlet port and said well opening, a sealing gasket member in engagementwith said annular shoulder, a sub-- stantially fiat, round porous venting disk member in engagement with said sealing. gasket-member, a second sealing gasket member in engagementwith and beneath said venting disk, thread meanswithin' said well opening, a cylindrically formed locking member, thread means externally on said locking member to enable its engagement with. said thread means in the well opening and in turn enable said locking member to impinge inliquidtight engagement the. saidv two sealing gasket members and porous venting disk member against said annular shoulder and within saidbody portion, and a pair of oppositely disposed notches in the lower edge of said locking. member to enable engagement of a torc wrench.

2. A vent plug closure as called for in claim 1, wherein a flat type sealing washer is adapted for superimposed engagement between the flanged portion on said vent plug closure and the collar member in the container for liquids.

3'. A vent plug closure for containers comprising in combination a flange body member and a substantially rounded porous venting member mounted therein, threaded means externally'of said body member for engaging with a correspondingly threaded collar member in a container for liquids, a circular splash bafile extending from said flange body member below said thread means and said venting member, an outlet port axially in the upper surface of said body member, a well opening in said body member in axial alignment with and of substantially larger diameter than said outlet port and communicating therewith, a circular shoulder formed at the iunction of said outlet port and said well opening, a sealing gasket member interposed between said porous venting member and said circular shoulder and an externally threaded locking member engaging corresponding threads in said HORACE L. BERING. THOMAS P. CALLAHAN.

Refm'ences Cited in the file of this patent Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Williams Apr. 25, 1916 Number 6 Name Date Kammerhofi July 11, 1916 Evinrude Sept. 4, 1928 McCrery et a1 Dec. 19, 1933 Chapman Nov. 24, 1936 Griffin, Jr., et a1. Oct. 13, 1942 Woodhouse et a1. Apr. 13, 1943 Manney June 29, 1943 Scott Jan. 2, 1945 Schneider Feb. 5, 1946 

